Legislative Branch Activity This week on Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, will hold a hearing titled “Making Implementation of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Ground-Level Ozone Attainable: Legislative Hearing on S.263 and S.452.” The NAAQs have been highly controversial since their … Continue Reading

Executive Branch Activity New Guidance Clarifying Energy Executive Order Last week, just four days before federal agencies’ initial plans were due to OMB, the White House issued a memo updating with more specifics as to how President Trump expects agencies to carry out his previously issued energy executive order (Executive Order 13783, “Promoting Energy Independence and … Continue Reading

Executive Branch Activity On Monday, President Trump is expected to begin signing executive orders intended to roll back some of President Obama’s actions to protect the environment. Early anticipated orders could include ones that would: (1) remove the public lands coal leasing moratorium; and (2) revoke CEQ’s guidance to agencies that recommends climate change and greenhouse … Continue Reading

Regulatory Activity Greenhouse Gas Rule The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) anticipated Proposed Rule concerning greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for existing coal and natural gas fired power plants will be released to the public on Monday, June 2, at 10:30 am. To advance public awareness of the proposed rule, the President devoted his Saturday radio address … Continue Reading

Regulatory Activity Wind Turbine Funding Opportunity The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Wind Program intends to release a funding opportunity in early 2014 targeting the development of taller wind turbines. According to DOE, “the funding opportunity is expected to focus on innovative designs and processes for wind turbine tower manufacturing and turbine system installations that … Continue Reading

Legislative Activity Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing on Energy Infrastructure Legislation Last Tuesday, October 29, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing to review the North American Energy Infrastructure Act (H.R. 3301), legislation that seeks to eliminate the State Department’s authority to approve an energy infrastructure project and delegate that responsibility to the Federal Energy … Continue Reading

Executive and Legislative Branch Activity Iran The Senate is in session this week, while the House is in recess. The Obama Administration continues to urge the Senate to delay acting on new sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program. This week, the P5+1 Talks with Iran resume in Geneva, Switzerland (November 7-8). Syria The Organization for the … Continue Reading

Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: Tuesday, September 24: The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, will hold a hearing to examine black carbon as a global health problem and to determine low-cost solutions. Tuesday, September 24: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, … Continue Reading